VISAKHAPATNAM: Union ministers Jairam Ramesh and V Kishore Chandra Deo on Saturday said they would continue their opposition to the proposed bauxite mining in tribal areas of Visakhapatnam district, as long as they were members of the Union Cabinet.Addressing a public meeting on Saturday at Chintapalle, the hotbed of Maoists, Union minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh said despite the state government’s decision in favour of the proposed bauxite mining, he would continue his efforts to oppose it to safeguard rights of the tribals. He added that the proposed bauxite mining would adversely affect the environment and the tribals would lose their livelihood. “Rapid industrialisation ignoring the interests of tribals creates unrest in society,” he said. Decrying the violence wreaked by Maoists, Ramesh urged them to shun violence and take the path of electoral politics. Later, Ramesh and Union minister for tribal welfare and panchayat raj V Kishore Chandra Deo inaugurated 59 multipurpose halls across 11 tribal mandals at the function in Chintapalle. The halls were constructed with Jairam Ramesh’s MPLADS funds. The buildings will be used as daily ration depots, which are the lifeline of the public distribution system in tribal areas. Presently, tribals in some remote villages have to travel long distances to get their basic rations. These depots will be managed by Self-Help Groups and the project will benefit 60,000 tribals in 300 habitations.
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